Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced Saturday, July 7, they are suspending imports of Spanish olive oil following reports that it could contain carcinogenic substances. In Riyadh, the trade ministry announced the suspension in a statement quoted by the official SPA agency reported.

The agency added that the authorities also decided to withdraw Spanish olive oil already on the Saudi market and carry out tests on the cancer risks posed by the alleged presence of this substance.

In Doha, the public health ministry also banned the import of Spanish oil and began tests on oil from the local market, according to the Qatari agency, QNA.

The Spanish health minister Tuesday issued a "food safety alert" following the discovery of a carcinogenic substance called benzopyrene in a particular brand of olive oil. ― (AFP, Dubai)